Category: current reading

If you know me in real life or have been reading here for any period of time, you know I love to read! Almost as much as the reading, I enjoy sharing what I am reading. Each month, I share online articles I have enjoyed, a list of the books that I am currently working through, and maybe some other things I am enjoying this month.

Online Reads

There is no particular order to my shares, but I hope that you will enjoy reading them as I have and maybe you will find a new to you resource to enjoy and use in your purpose filled living.

Be Still, My Soul: The silent we hear is at times as important and life-giving as the words and music we hear.

Staying Sane While Homemaking: Because sometimes a reminder to keep is simple is the best reminder. I went looking for a new formula and instead found what I already knew and just needed reminding.

Book Reading

Nine Thoughts That Can Change Your Marriage: Because a Great Relationship Doesn’t Happen by Accident, Shelia Wray Gregoire: came to me recommended and has interesting and helpful ideas. You can see my review comments at GoodReads

Longing for Paris: One Woman’s Search for Joy, Beauty, and Adventure–Right Where She Is, Sarah Mae: Right now I don’t have all the words to express how much I enjoyed this book. Definitely a re-read and I hope to do a book review on it in the near future.

The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek, Jane Meyers Perrine: my fun fictional read this month. An enjoyable book and worth pursuing the other stories in the series.

The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn: I have wanted to read this children’s book for years since it was first recommended by my daughter’s preschool teacher. Since my little man is having a hard time with going to preschool, I finally checked it out on our e-reader and read it with him. So sweet, and a great resource for helping your kids deal with being away from you.

50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith, Warren Wiersbe: This book has been my go to read for before bed. Interesting reading and yet it does not get my brain processing so much that I find it hard to turn off and go to sleep, plus history!

The Thompson-Chain Reference Study Bible-KJV: I am working on reading through the Bible in entirety this year, and for the first time in the many times I have begun this process I really believe I am going to finish!

Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, Mason Currey: I am curious how others live their lives and this one came recommended.

Quotable Quotes: on the outlook for some good quotes to share.

Other things I’ve enjoyed this month

Influence Network teaching: This network of ladies‘ have the motto to equip women in their passions and projects in the places where there are. I enjoy the reality they emphasis, their heart for the gospel in everything and their deep desire to keep Christ at the center of what they do regardless of what it may be. The classes that I have been able to take via the Network this past month have been a wonderful reset to my thinking.

I have on my schedule to post a book review this coming week . . . however, inspiration for writing reviews is lacking the last few days. I have worked on a couple for books I have read over the last year, but they don’t seem to be flowing well, and I am struggling to get the words and thoughts together to express what I like about them.

Wanting to share about my reading with you all, I have struggled exactly on how to do that. I have found several new resources over the last month and half and have started some new reading material that I thought would be enjoyable share. So grab a cup of tea and join me for a “book” discussion of what I am currently reading.

Crystal Paine’s, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, is a book in my reading stack that was a surprise to me. I love organizing and time management so I have read A LOT in that area. When I first heard about her book, I had no intention of buying it or even necessarily reading it. Not because I do not like what she was writing about, but because I felt like she most likely would not be saying something I do not already know. To dispel the impression that I have attained all knowledge in this subject, here is a bit of back story. I found a year or so ago that I was at the point were I was reading and learning and gathering information about organization, de-cluttering, time management, etc. but was not necessarily improving in those areas. Then it dawned on me . . . I needed to stop reading so much about it and just do it!! (Break through stuff, I know!) In light of that realization, I have intentionally scaled back on the amount of organizing material I have been reading. Whew, all that to explain why I was not planning on reading Crystal’s book at this time. Then I heard her speak on a podcast, and she talked a bit about her book. WOW! I enjoyed not only what she was saying but how she was saying it. So, I got the book . . . and immediately started reading it. My mother-in-law, heard about the book and asked if I had see it. As a matter of fact, yes, it arrived at my door yesterday! So, I paused my reading to share the organizing goodness with her. Now I have it back, and it is once again in the stack of books beside my bed that I reach for in moments of quiet.

Another of my favorites, Replenish, by Lisa Grace Byrne, is among the current reading stack. I read her book last year, but am going through it again with my sister-in-law this year. Since we are taking a study approach to our reading, I expect this book will be in my current reading stack for quite a few months. I enjoyed Lisa’s writing and ideas during my first read, and am liking the slower paced reading, taking time to absorb and practice more of what she teaches. (Her book is one that I am working on a book review of, so you can look for that in the future!)

It Starts with Food (Dallas and Melissa Hartwig) was recommended by a dear lady I know, and since I am seeking to transition our family to healthier eating habits, it sounded useful. Though, I may not agree with everything the authors promote, this book has been one of the more educational food related books I have read. My geekiness eats up (ha, ha) the technically of what they are teaching and they have written it in such an easy read manner that it is not difficult to read.

If first readThe Friendship Factor by Alan McGinnis when I was in high school. I thought, it was worth a reread, since who among us does not need to improve on their friendship skills. Because of the size of the book and the material covered, this has become my “travel” book. It lives in my bag and goes with me to have on hand for the moments I have to wait and can read for a bit. Granted with a preschooler shadowing me in my days, that does not happen often, so this book may take me a bit to get through it. I am envisioning moments of reading under a tree while the kids play in the yard this summer. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be able to read parts of it with my older girls.

A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live (Emily Freeman) and A Quest for More: Living for Something Bigger Than You (Paul David Tripp) are two e-books that I borrowed or purchased free from Amazon’s daily deal. They each looked interesting, but as I have been reading them, I have been impressed more and more. I am trying to be more particular (choosy) about what I buy and put on my bookshelf, but these have earned a place in my wishlist. I would like to reread them, taking time to digest what the authors are saying and make my notes in the books as I go. They may even make it to my “life changers” book shelf.

I hope you have enjoyed this variation on my book review. I have enjoyed writing it, and pray it encourages you to dust off a favorite from your shelf or go find a new one. I’d love to hear what you are reading, so please take a moment to comment and let me know. I am open to recommendations and enjoy hearing about the books others are enjoying and learning from.